Best 11 Almost Authentic Cincinnati Chili Recipes

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Cincinnati chili, a unique and flavorful dish, is a beloved tradition in the Queen City. While the exact origins of this dish are shrouded in mystery, its popularity has soared since the early 1900s, captivating taste buds far beyond the borders of Ohio. This hearty and aromatic chili, with its distinct blend of spices, is a culinary gem that has earned a dedicated following among chili enthusiasts. In this article, we embark on a culinary journey to discover the secrets behind creating an almost authentic Cincinnati chili, exploring the essential ingredients and techniques that bring this iconic dish to life.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CINCINNATI CHILI



Cincinnati Chili image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Kosher salt
1 6-ounce can tomato sauce
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chopped unsweetened chocolate
1 tablespoon cider or red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Freshly ground pepper
12 ounces spaghetti
1 19-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 pound grated cheddar cheese
Oyster crackers, for serving (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a medium Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add half the chopped onions and the garlic and cook until soft, stirring, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, allspice, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne and cloves. Cook, stirring, until fragrant. Add the beef and cook the mixture, stirring, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon salt.
  • Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaf and 1 1/2 cups water; simmer the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thicker. Add the chocolate, vinegar and Worcestershire and cook until the mixture is thickened but still soupy, about 15 more minutes.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions. Drain well.
  • Discard the bay leaf and season the chili with the freshly ground pepper. Divide the spaghetti among bowls and top with the chili, beans, remaining onion and cheddar. Serve with the oyster crackers if desired.

CINCINNATI CHILI



Cincinnati Chili image

The thing that makes Cincinnatians' recipes different from the way you and I would start cooking the chili is not only the spices, but also the method. They do not start by browning the meat, but by boiling it!

Provided by KelBel

Categories     Meat

Time 3h15m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 lbs ground chuck
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 quart water
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 ounce unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 bay leaf, crumbled
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
4 drops Tabasco sauce
2 teaspoons paprika
2 beef bouillon cubes

Steps:

  • Bring the water to the boil and add the ground beef. Stir until the beef is separated and add the rest of the ingredients.
  • Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 to 3 hours, or until thickened. Cool, then refrigerate overnight. Skim off any accumulated fat and reheat the chili.
  • Serves with any or all of the following accompaniments:
  • 1 way: cooked spaghetti.
  • 2 way: finely grated cheddar cheese
  • 3 way: chopped raw onion
  • 4 way: cooked kidney beans
  • 5 way: oyster crackers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 316.5, Fat 21.4, SaturatedFat 8.5, Cholesterol 78.4, Sodium 997.5, Carbohydrate 10.4, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 4.4, Protein 22.1

AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI



Authentic Cincinnati Chili image

I feel like this is pretty close to the real thing. Tastes more like Dixie Chili than Skyline or Goldstar, but if you live in an area that you can't get to a chili parlor, this will fix your craving!

Provided by lyzzibear

Categories     < 4 Hours

Time 3h55m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 quart water
2 lbs ground chuck
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 large sweet onions, chopped fine
3 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 garlic cloves, chopped

Steps:

  • Crumble raw meat into cold water in medium stock pot. DO NOT brown meat.
  • Add all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
  • Lower heat and simmer for 3-4 hours.
  • Serve over spaghetti with cheddar cheese and onions, on hotdogs with mustard, cheddar cheese and onions, or in a bowl with cheddar cheese, onions and oyster crackers. I put a little hotsauce on mine!

ALMOST AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI



Almost Authentic Cincinnati Chili image

9 @ from Cincinnati and suffers pangs of withdrawal. His favorite is Skyline (personally when I've visited I preferred Goldstar, but that's heresy so don't tell Nick). I've played around with the recipe--it's still not quite perfected, but this is a version we enjoy. The best thing is that it is open to interpretation. Best served over pasta and topped with shredded cheese.

Provided by Katie Kleinhaus

Categories     Meat

Time 3h30m

Yield 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 quart water
2 lbs ground beef
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3 garlic cloves (diced)
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper
1 tablespoon salt
3 teaspoons ground allspice
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
4 large bay leaves

Steps:

  • Crumble raw (do not brown first) ground beef into the quart of water.
  • Add all of the other ingredients.
  • Simmer uncovered for 1/2 hour.
  • Simmer for another 2 and 1/2 hours covered.
  • Stir occasionally.

CINCINNATI-STYLE CHILI



Cincinnati-Style Chili image

Provided by Katie Lee Biegel

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

16 ounces tomato sauce
12 ounces tomato paste
1 yellow onion, grated
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 bay leaves
2 pounds ground beef (I use chuck)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 pound spaghetti, cooked according to package directions and tossed in olive oil to prevent sticking
One 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 white onion, diced
Two 8-ounce blocks Cheddar, grated
Hot sauce, optional
Oyster crackers, for serving

Steps:

  • For the chili: In a stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the tomato sauce, tomato paste, onions, chili powder, cocoa powder, sugar, kosher salt, cinnamon, cumin, garlic salt, allspice, pepper, cayenne, cloves, bay leaves, beef (do not brown first) and 2 cups water. Mix until combined. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for approximately 2 hours. Stir in the vinegar and simmer for another 30 minutes.
  • To serve: Serve on a bed of spaghetti and top with the beans, onions and a mound of cheese (or any preferred combination). Add hot sauce, if desired, and eat with oyster crackers.

AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI



Authentic Cincinnati Chili image

This was handed down to me by Mom, a Cincinnati native. Skimming the fat makes this a healthier version than most, and gives it the right consistency. I like mine 4-way, with spaghetti, raw chopped onions, grated mild cheddar, and oyster crackers!

Provided by Melissa Hamilton

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Chili Recipes     Chili Without Beans Recipes

Time 11h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 quart water, or amount to cover
2 onions, finely chopped
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
¼ cup chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
5 whole cloves
5 whole allspice berries
1 bay leaf

Steps:

  • Place the ground beef in a large pan, cover with about 1 quart of cold water, and bring to a boil, stirring and breaking up the beef with a fork to a fine texture. Slowly boil until the meat is thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes, then remove from heat and refrigerate in the pan overnight.
  • The next day, skim the solid fat from the top of the pan, and discard the fat. Place the beef mixture over medium heat, and stir in the onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, chocolate, chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves, allspice berries, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours. Add water if necessary to prevent the chili from burning.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 225.2 calories, Carbohydrate 10.1 g, Cholesterol 59.5 mg, Fat 12.6 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 19.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 673.7 mg, Sugar 4 g

AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI



Authentic Cincinnati Chili image

This was handed down to me by Mom, a Cincinnati native. Skimming the fat makes this a healthier version than most, and gives it the right consistency. I like mine 4-way, with spaghetti, raw chopped onions, grated mild cheddar, and oyster crackers!

Provided by Melissa Hamilton

Categories     Chili Without Beans

Time 11h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 quart water, or amount to cover
2 onions, finely chopped
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
¼ cup chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
5 whole cloves
5 whole allspice berries
1 bay leaf

Steps:

  • Place the ground beef in a large pan, cover with about 1 quart of cold water, and bring to a boil, stirring and breaking up the beef with a fork to a fine texture. Slowly boil until the meat is thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes, then remove from heat and refrigerate in the pan overnight.
  • The next day, skim the solid fat from the top of the pan, and discard the fat. Place the beef mixture over medium heat, and stir in the onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, chocolate, chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves, allspice berries, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours. Add water if necessary to prevent the chili from burning.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 225.2 calories, Carbohydrate 10.1 g, Cholesterol 59.5 mg, Fat 12.6 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 19.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 673.7 mg, Sugar 4 g

AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI



Authentic Cincinnati Chili image

This was handed down to me by Mom, a Cincinnati native. Skimming the fat makes this a healthier version than most, and gives it the right consistency. I like mine 4-way, with spaghetti, raw chopped onions, grated mild cheddar, and oyster crackers!

Provided by Melissa Hamilton

Categories     Chili Without Beans

Time 11h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 quart water, or amount to cover
2 onions, finely chopped
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
¼ cup chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
5 whole cloves
5 whole allspice berries
1 bay leaf

Steps:

  • Place the ground beef in a large pan, cover with about 1 quart of cold water, and bring to a boil, stirring and breaking up the beef with a fork to a fine texture. Slowly boil until the meat is thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes, then remove from heat and refrigerate in the pan overnight.
  • The next day, skim the solid fat from the top of the pan, and discard the fat. Place the beef mixture over medium heat, and stir in the onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, chocolate, chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves, allspice berries, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours. Add water if necessary to prevent the chili from burning.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 225.2 calories, Carbohydrate 10.1 g, Cholesterol 59.5 mg, Fat 12.6 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 19.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 673.7 mg, Sugar 4 g

AUTHENTIC CINCINNATI CHILI



Authentic Cincinnati Chili image

This Cincinnati chili recipe was handed down to me by Mom, a Cincinnati native. Skimming the fat makes this a healthier version than most, and gives it the right consistency. I like mine "4-way," with spaghetti, raw chopped onions, and grated mild cheddar, plus oyster crackers!

Provided by Melissa Hamilton

Categories     Chili Without Beans

Time 11h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 quart water, or amount to cover
2 onions, finely chopped
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
¼ cup chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
5 whole cloves
5 whole allspice berries
1 bay leaf

Steps:

  • Place ground beef in a large pan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil, stirring and breaking up beef with a fork to a fine texture. Slowly boil until meat is thoroughly cooked, about 30 minutes, then remove from heat and refrigerate in the pan overnight.
  • The next day, skim the solid fat from the top of the pan, and discard.
  • Place pan with beef over medium heat, and stir in onions, tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, chocolate, chili powder, salt, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves, allspice berries, and bay leaf.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours. Add water if necessary to prevent the chili from burning.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 225.2 calories, Carbohydrate 10.1 g, Cholesterol 59.5 mg, Fat 12.6 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 19.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 673.7 mg, Sugar 4 g

TRADITIONAL CINCINNATI CHILI



Traditional Cincinnati Chili image

I got this recipe from a college friend who grew up right outside of Cincinnati. The original recipe calls for twice as much ground beef and no beans, but I prefer the combination. This chili has an interesting blend of flavors and you can easily adjust amounts to your liking - I tend to measure all the spices with a generous hand! Don't be afraid to make it spicy because serving it on spaghetti sort of spreads out the heat. I have also added chopped bell peppers to this to add color, with good results. This freezes well. A couple of notes - browning the ground beef ahead of time works ok, but the consistency will be much different than if you crumble the raw meat into the water at the start (chunky vs. a kind of thickened sauce consistency). Also, this will work in a crock pot, but the end result is too thin and watery for my taste.

Provided by pattikay in L.A.

Categories     Spaghetti

Time 1h20m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 quart water
1 lb raw ground beef
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans kidney beans, undrained (pinto beans are fine too)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar (red wine vinegar works too)
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice (I tend to use closer to a full tsp. because I love it)
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
cooked spaghetti
shredded cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Pour water into a large cooking pot (5-qt size)
  • Crumble raw ground beef into water.
  • Add beans, onions, garlic, tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and all of the spices, salt and peppers.
  • Stir together and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer till meat is cooked and chili is thickened, from 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter (depending on how thick you like it).
  • When chili is nearly done, prepare spaghetti (as much as you need - think in terms of how much you would want if this were spaghetti sauce).
  • Place drained spaghetti on plates and ladle chili over it.
  • Top with shredded cheddar.

CINCINNATI CHILI I



Cincinnati Chili I image

An unusual chili, with cinnamon, cloves, and even chocolate!

Provided by MARBALET

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Chili Recipes     Chili Without Beans Recipes

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ cup chopped onion
2 pounds ground beef
¼ cup chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf
½ (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
2 (10.5 ounce) cans beef broth
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
¼ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 6 minutes.
  • Add beef, in batches if necessary, and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned.
  • Add chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cloves, bay leaf, chocolate, beef broth, tomato sauce, cider vinegar, and red pepper. Stir to mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • It is the best if you now refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove the bay leaf. Reheat gently over medium heat. Serve over hot, drained spaghetti. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 427.4 calories, Carbohydrate 7 g, Cholesterol 100.2 mg, Fat 35 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 22.2 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, Sodium 659.1 mg, Sugar 2.9 g

### 3 Key Factors to Keep in your Chili Recipe ### Spicing * Use canned tomatoes with green chilies to add a bit of heat to the chili. * Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne to give the chili a traditional chili taste. * Control the amount of spice by adjusting the amount of cayenne and chili powder. * If you use spicy sausage, you can reduce the amount of other spices you add. ### Sautéing and Simmering * Sauté the onions and peppers before adding them to the chili. Sautéing them helps to release their natural sugars and caramelizes them slightly, which adds a nice depth of flavour to the chili. * Brown the ground meat before adding it to the chili. Browning the meat helps to reduce the amount of fat in the chili and it also helps to develop the flavour of the meat. * Simmer the chili for at least 30 minutes, but longer is better. Simmering helps to meld the flavours of the chili and make it more flavorful. ### Toppings and Serving * Shredded cheese, diced onions, and cilantro are classic chili toppings. * Serve the chili with a side of bread, rice, or corn bread. * Chili can also be served as a topping for hot dogs or hamburgers. ### Other General Recipe Considerations * You can use just about any type of meat in chili, but ground chuck and venison are two common and flavorful options. * If you like your chili with a bit of a kick, add a diced jalapeno or two. * For a vegetarian chili, use a mix of lentils, black and kidney, and pinto or black and kidney and pinto or Cannellini and black or Great Northerns and pinto, and omit the meat. * If you are short on time, you can use canned chili but be sure to season it well with additional spices. ### Final Recommendations * Make a big pot of chili and freeze the leftovers for later. * Chili is a great meal to take to potlucks or other gatherings. * Chili is a delicious and hearty meal that is perfect for a cold day. I hope these tips help you make a delicious pot of Cincinnati chili!

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